Obituaries (June 13)

Julia L. Haight

Utica Saturday Globe, January 13, 1906

Julia L. Haight

Norwich (Chenango Co., NY]:  Julia L. Haight passed away at her home on Mitchell street on Friday morning last after an illness that brought intense suffering which she bore with patient resignation.  She was born in Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] October 25, 1889, but had spent all but two years of her life in Norwich, where she held a warm place in the affections of many friends, especially among the young people.  Her father, Marvin Haight, died when she was an infant, her mother, now Mrs. George A. Sisson, surviving as does also one sister, Ruth B. Haight.  She is also survived by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hannis, her stepfather, George A. Sisson, and a half-sister, Sadie M. Sisson, all residents of Norwich.  Her funeral was largely attended by relatives from Oneonta, Binghamton, Delanson, North Norwich, Cortland, New Berlin, Schenectady, Sherburne, Oxford and Rockwell's Mills, making in company with the many Norwich friends a large assemblage of mourners.  The services were held at her late home at 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, Rev. Wilson Treible officiating.  three beautiful hymns were sung by Lewis Burnside.  The bearers were members of the Railroad Y.M.C.A.  The floral offerings were beautiful and abundant. Tenderly the remains were borne to Mount Hope Cemetery [Norwich, NY] and laid to rest.

 

Hon. John Brisbin

Bainbridge Republican, February 13, 1880

John Brisbin, a prominent official of the D.L.&W. Railroad, died at his residence in Newark, N.J. of dropsy on Tuesday, Feb. 4th, aged sixty-one years.  He was born in Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], this county, in 1818, and when a young man went West for a time, then returned to Pennsylvania, where he acted as paymaster for a canal company, taught school to support himself while studying law, was sent to Congress, became assistant counsel for the D.L.&W.R.R. Co., afterward superintendent and then president, which office he held about seven years, and then resigned to fill the duties of counsel.  During the building of the D.L.&W. road through this valley. Mr Brisban was present, and became generally acquainted with the citizens of his native county.  Brisbin [Chenango Co., NY], formerly East Greene, was named after him soon after the railroad commenced operations--Oxford Times.

 

Kate McCarthy

Bainbridge Republican, February 13, 1880

Miss Kate McCarthy, daughter of Chas. McCarthy, of Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], while in depression of spirits, induced from a term of illness, wandered from home last week Wednesday night and was found frozen to death in the ice of the Susquehanna river the following morning.  She ws twenty-two years of age.

Binghamton Press, February 11, 1880

The account, published in Thursday morning's Republican, of the mysterious disappearance of Miss Kate McCarthy, daughter of Charles McCarthy, a young lady about 23 years of age, from her home on Varick street and the subsequent search for her, has a sad sequel.  The unfortunate young lady was found dead on the ice in the Chenango river about nine o'clock yesterday morning.  Miss McCarthy had been ill about two months with a fever, brought on by a severe cold.  The disease affected her brain, so that within the past few days she had acted strangely.  On Wednesday she appeared more excited than upon any previous day, walking the floor and giving evidences of great depression of spirits.  In the afternoon she put on her shawl and hat and announced her intention of paying a visit to her sister, Mrs. David Kelley, in the Fifth ward.  Attempts were made to dissuade her from going, but to no avail.  She started toward her sister's and went directly there.  A lad followed her most of the distance, but as she did not show any disposition to wander from the way, and had announced her intention to remain at Mrs. Kelley's over night, no anxiety was felt as to her safety.  About six o'clock she determined to return home, whither she was accompanied by Mr. Kelley.  When they arrived there, Mrs. McCarthy was out to a neighbor's house, but a younger sister was at home, in whose care Mr. Kelley left the unfortunate young lady, and departed.  Shortly after he was gone Kate again donned her hat and shawl, saying that she was going to the residence of a lady friend, Mrs. Turner, on Susquehanna street, and would return in a few minutes.  As she went out of the door she said to the younger sister, "Maggie, if mother comes before I get back, don't tell her I have returned form over the river, as I don't want her to know that I have gone out again."  After an hour had elapsed and she did not return, the sister went after her, and discovered that she had not been to Mrs. Turner's. Search was instituted, in which a number of friends joined.  No trace of the missing girl was discovered, however, during the night, and apprehensions were entertained.  When morning came it was learned that she had been seen on Stuyvesant street about eight o'clock the previous evening, and later on Court street, going in the direction of the Chenango river bridge.  About nine o'clock Mr. Kelley, who, in company with others, was searching along the river, discovered the missing girl on the ice of the west side of the Chenango river, near its junction with the Susquehanna.  The body was partly on the ice and partly in the water about ten feet from the shore, frozen fast.  Tracks indicated that she had started directly out from the shore, and had broken through where she was found.  Her clothing had caught on the ice and prevented entire submersion of the body. The body was removed to the unfortunate woman's home, and the Coroner was notified.  He began an inquest by empaneling the following jury:  A.C. Matthews, foreman, John Hanrahan, E.W. Brigham, J.H. Donely, C.E. Burgett and Patrick Crow.

 

Funeral of Miss Kate McCarthy

The funeral of Miss Kate McCarthy was held at St. Patrick's church Friday afternoon.  The sad manner in which the death of this young lady occurred gave peculiar interest to the services.  The body was borne in a hearse from  her late residence on Varick street, followed by a long line of carriages.  The pall bearers were Edward Dundon, Thomas Garvey, Eli Scott, Michael Welch, Simon McCarthy and Thomas Cochlan.  A large number of relatives and friends were present at the church.  Rev. Father Quinn officiated, and after the usual funeral rites made a touching and eloquent address concerning the many virtues of the deceased, whom, he said, he had known from infancy. The remains were deposited in the Catholic cemetery.

 

John Smith

Bainbridge Republican, November 28, 1879

The "original" John Smith died at Afton [Chenango Co., NY] Nov. 25th.  this old veteran of the war of 1812 was familiarly known hereabouts as "Bung-eye Smith," and used to often visit Bainbridge to indulge in a little frolic.  He was 92 years of age at his death, but had been quite lively and active up to within a short time.  He was his own worst enemy, and was a glorious example for lovers of the ardent to point at in combatting the virtues of temperance.



 

Betsey (Lyon) Knapp

Chenango Union, January 31, 1884

 

KNAPP:  In Guilford, Jan. 27th, Mrs. Betsey Knapp, widow of George Knapp, aged 81 years.

 



Mrs. Betsey Knapp, widow of the late George Knapp, and mother of David H. Knapp, Esq., of this village, died at the residence of her son-in-law, John A Clark, in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on Sunday last, aged eighty-one years.  Deceased was born in the south part of the town of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], and was a daughter of Capt. Thomas Lyon, for whom Lyon Brook was named, and who was killed in the war of 1812, at the battle of Little York.  Before her marriage she taught school for several terms in a little building which stood on West Main street, in this village and was afterwards removed to a lot north of Mrs. W.B. Guernsey's residence, where it remained for some years.  January 1, 1828,she married George Knapp and in the spring of 1836 removed with her husband to Guilford, upon the farm where she lived and died.  Mr. Knapp died nearly six years ago, since which time her health gradually failed, and for upwards of a year previous to her death her mind was clouded.  She was the mother of nine children--five sons and four daughters--who survive her.  She was a life-long,consistent member of the Presbyterian church, a kind neighbor and a true friend.  The funeral on Tuesday was largely attended, many of the older residents of the town being present, and the remains were interred in the family lot in Norwich cemetery.

Death Notices

Chenango Union, January 31, 1884

 

CAHOON:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 28th, Mr Stephen Cahoon, aged 81 years.

TURNER:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 27th, Mr. Joseph Turner, aged 46 years.

BARNES:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 15th, Miss Carrie A. Barnes, aged 22 years. formerly of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY[.

JOHNSTON:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 22d, Miss Susan Johnston, aged 82 years.

BREED:  In Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 14th, Josephine M., wife of George D. Breed, aged 35 years.

FRENCH:  In Decatur, Id., Jan. 23d, Mr. Sumner R. French, aged 32 years, formerly of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY].

SPENCER:  In Providence, R.I., Jan. 26th, Mrs. E.H. Spencer, aged 45 years, daughter of Albert S. Tanner, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].